AZAM ALI & NIYAZ
Gig Seeker Pro

AZAM ALI & NIYAZ

Edson, Alberta, Canada | Established. Jan 01, 2014 | INDIE

Edson, Alberta, Canada | INDIE
Established on Jan, 2014
Band World

Calendar

This band has not uploaded any videos
This band has not uploaded any videos

Music

Press


"De la nuit au lever du jour"

C'était la voix céleste qui s'élevait au-dessus de tout du temps du groupe Niyaz. Elle chante comme un ange et caresse le santour, l'un des instruments emblématiques de l'Iran, d'où elle vient. Elle n'y a pas vécu longtemps, mais en a conservé l'intériorité de la musique.
Maintenant installée à Montréal, elle propose un disque de berceuses du Moyen- Orient, région du monde qu'elle aborde dans sa globalité en retenant d'abord l'âme des minorités ethniques. De la nuit au lever du jour, une mère se plonge dans la tendresse des mélopées et partage vocalement ses amours ou ses angoisses avec le nouveau-né.
Elle chante en plusieurs langues, interprète Marcel Khalifé, puise dans les traditions d'Iran, d'Irak, de Palestine, d'Azerbaïdjan et de Turquie. Elle écrit des musiques et s'accompagne d'excellents cordistes et percussionnistes, dont les frères Tabassian de Montréal. Elle signe un disque aux envoûtantes rêveries. En vente le 19 avril. - Le Devoir


"The best-loved vocalists on America’s world music scene"

« (Azam) Ali has become one of the best-loved vocalists on America’s world music scene » - India West


"Ali’s voice, one of the most evocative in modern music"

Ali’s voice, one of the most evocative in modern music, seems to rise from the collective unconscious, simultaneously new and ancient.” - Billboard


"Most impressive of all is the voice and presence of the beautiful Azam Ali."

Most impressive of all is the voice and presence of the beautiful Azam Ali. Like the group she fronts, Azam appears to straddle cultures and contradictions. She sings sacred poetry and age-old songs from Iran, India and Turkey over backing that finds room for synths, beats and electric guitars. She looks and sounds exotic, not surprising given that she grew up in Iran and India, yet there’s something intrinsically Californian about her manner (she now live in LA); she appear not so much trapped between cultures as defined by her cross-culturalism – a true 21st century Sufi if you like. - Froots


"The most immediately striking thing about the album is Ali’s voice"

The most immediately striking thing about the album is Ali’s voice : her angelic, ghostly tones (which have served her well on previous solo projects and her work as half of the duo Vas) are at their strongest here…. - World Music Central


"A syren’s call"

Azam’s voice is a syren’s call beckoning the soul to leap into realms of infinite beauty - The Book LA


Discography

Niyaz 
Sumud - Six Degrees - 2012
Nine Heavens - Six Degrees - 2011
Niyaz - SIx Degrees - 2005

Azam Ali
Elysium for the brave - 2006
From Night to the Edge of Day - 2011

Photos

Bio

A journey to the heart of the unmistakable voice of Azam Ali and the refined acoustic/electronic instrumentation of Loga Ramin Torkian.

NIYAZ defines the best in contemporary world music by effortlessly marrying rich Sufi mystical poetry and folk songs from the Middle East, masterful acoustic intrumentation, with modern electronics. 
Based in Montreal, NIYAZ is considered by critics to be one of the most groundbreaking groups of its time. Since the release of their debut successful album in 2005, Niyaz have performed in many prominent festivals and concerts around the world. As individual artists as well as collectively they have also contributed to some of the biggest soundtracks of major Hollywood films. 
Their latest album entitled Sumud - released in September 2012 - further defines the sound that the group have received acclaim for. Sumud, an Arabic word which means “steadfastnessâ€?, offers a philosophical quest into the human depths, a message of hope against the injustice and oppression of ethnic and religious minority groups, a universal tribute to beauty, cultural and spiritual diversity, freedom and dignity for all.

 

Video links:

Artist video EPK

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oNh52ZbjHXc
Clip Parishaan

http://www.youtube.com/watch?feature=player_embedded&v=Zl4Xq-CSbFk

Clip The Hunt (new remix 2014)

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=kII5nCc9W28

http://www.facebook.com/niyazmusic?fref=ts

http://www.zamzama.net/english/artists/niyaz-34/

 

Group line up

Azam Ali : Voice, frame drums, dulcimer
Loga Ramin Torkian : Multi-oud, kamaan 
Habib Meftah Boushehri : percussion, voice 
Sinan Eroglu Cem : kaval, baglama 
Gabriel Ethier : keyboards and programming